Spring



G. R. NYQUIST,

SPRING..

APPLICATION FILED MAY14, 1917.

Patented Apr. 6, 1%@

l?) VE NTOH 191W Bv W WITNESSES ATTORNEY ITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lGUST R. NYQUIST, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

SPRING.

Application filed May 14, 1917.

To all whom, if may concern 33e it known that I, Gnsr R. NrQUisT, avcitizen of the United States, residing at Fresno, in the county ofFresno and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Springs, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an ellipticspring for vehicles and the like, and the principal object of theinvention is to reduce the friction between the parts and to reduce theamount of metal necessary to form the spring.

In an ordinary leaf springthe steel in the longitudinal center only actsas bulk and has no other useful function. rI'he bottom part of the leafhas tension while the top of the leaf compresses, while the steel in thecenter of the leaf binds the top and bottom together and keeps them fromperforming their full function. I overcome this defect by dividing theleaves of the spring at the centers and splitting them longitudinallyvand forming the entire spring of one piece of metal bent n itself toform the split leaves, or by forming a shoulder on one leaf againstwhich the top half of the adjacent leaf bears. Thus the lower half ofeach leaf has tension, while the upper half has compression.

The invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure lis a front view of the spring with parts in section and parts brokenaway,

Fig. 2 is a like view of part of a spring with parts in section andshowing a modification,

F ig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the leaves shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a like view of the top leaf of Fia. 2.

iis shown in these figures I divide the leaves of the spring at theircenters and clamp them together by means of the top clamp or bracket lhaving the wings 2 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 168.507.

the central projection 3 extending into the space between the inner endsof the leaves This projection has a holetpassing through the same, and arecess therein communicating with the whole four to receive the screwthreaded ends of the clip 5. This clip holds the wenge member 6 inengagement with the bottom part 7 of the lowermost leaf which is notdivided at its center as are the other leaves. S and 9 represent twoother clips passing through holes in the wings 2 of the bracket l andengaging the leaves of the spring so as to clamp them on the bracket asshown in Fig. l. In this way the leaves are securely held in position asthe three clips with the bracket and wedge member set up a clampingaction on the leaves of the spring.

As shown in Fig. l, I form each part of each leaf of a piece of metalbent on itself at its outer edge so as to form a half leaf l0 having ahorizontal slit ll therein extended from a point adjacent its outer endthrough its inner end, thus the leal is divided into an upper part l2and a lower part 13. T his lower part 13 at its inner end is providedwith -a thickened portion 14 forming a shoulder where it joins the restof the bottom part and the upper part of the next leaf is of slightlyless length than the bottom part and engages the shoulder. A. shoulderl5 is formed in the bracket l to receive the upper part of the firstleaf. The lower half of the bottom leaf extends from end to end of thespring and is not divided centrally as are the other leaves and thislower part is clamped between the member G and the bracket l as beforestated. Thus the adjacent ends of the two parts 0f the leaves areclamped together to form a complete spring and by reason of the splitleaves a greater power is given to the spring as the tendency of themetal of the spring to assume a straight position will cause the upperhalf of each leaf to have a compression action, while the lower half hastension as before stated. The clamping clips 8 and 9 have shouldersformed thereon which engage the bracket so as to allow a working' fitfor the leaves. The upper half of each leaf is compressed against theshoulder of the leaf above.

In the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 4, I form the leaves from onepiece of metal instead of forming shoulders as in Figs, 1

and 3, an on the upper leaf, I form a pr jection 16, which engages in agroove 17 in the bracket to hold the upper leaf against movement inrelation to the bracket. In this construction lthe metal beginning atthe projection 16 is carried forward to form the upper half of the firstleaf, then doubled on itself forming the lower half thereof, then bentback to form the upper half of the second leaf and so on to the bottomhalf of the last leaf. It is then carried between the clamps and isdoubled upon itself to form the leaves on the other side of the spring.In other respects, this construction is similar to that first describedand the action of this spring is also similar.

It is thought from the foregoing that the advantages and novel featuresof my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make slight changes in theconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of the severalparts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I .claim as my invention: Y

l. A spring` comprising a plurality of leaves, each leaf being folded toform superposed layers, and each leaf having a shoulder thereon engagingwith a part on the adjacent leaf. v.

2. A spring comprising a pair of groups of leaf springs, each leafthereof being folded to form superposed layers, and clamping means forholding the two groups.

3. A spring comprising a pair of groups of leafsprings, each leaf beingfolded to form superposed layers, and clamping means for holding thegroups and the parts of each leaf spring together.

il. A spring comprising a pair of groups of leaf springs, each leaf ofeach Vgroup being folded to form superposed layers, clamping means forholding the groups topair to the otliei, and clamping means for holdingVsaid leaf and groups together.

6. A leaf spring having its superposed leaves formed from a single stripof metal, said leaves arranged in a pair of groups,

a portion of said strip joining the groups,

and clampingrmeans for holding said portion of said strip and saidgroups together.

7. A leaf spring having its superposed leaves formed from a single stripof metal, said leaves arranged in a pair of groups, a portion of saidstrip joining the groups, clamping means for holding said portion ofsaid strip and said groups together, and a shoulder formed upon one leafand engaging withV the clamping means.V

8. A spring comprising a plurality of superposed leavesV arranged ingroups formed by folding a single strip of metal.

9. A spring comprising a pair of groups of leaf springs, a plateassociated with the tops of said groups, said plate having a projectionextending between the groups, and

clips associated with said projection andA the ends of said plate forclamping the plate to said groups.

10. A spring comprising a plurality of leaves each leaf being folded toform superposed layers, and each leaf having a depending shoulderadapted fory engagement with the lowerinost layer of the adjacent leaf.Y

In testimony whereof IaiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUST R. NYQUIST.

Vitnesses i i HARRY M. McKEn, W. L. ROURKE.

